BOSTON – Seven individuals from central Massachusetts were charged today in U.S. District Court in Worcester for operating a million dollar marijuana conspiracy.

Lam Ly, 43, and Tam Pham, 36, of Leicester; Nhi Le, 32, Diep Pham, 52, Ut Le, 33, and Minh Bui, 43, of Webster; and Luan Bui, 42, of Worcester were charged in a superseding indictment with conspiracy to manufacture marijuana, manufacturing and possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, and maintaining several drug involved premises. The indictment and arrests announced today are the culmination of a lengthy joint federal, state, and local investigation.

The indictment alleges that Lam Ly, Tam Pham, Nhi Le, Diep Pham, Ut Le, Luan Bui, Minh Bui, and others, maintained indoor marijuana growing operations in Douglas, three locations in Webster, Worcester, Paxton, and Leominster. To date, the investigation has led to the seizure of over $124,000 in cash and over 2,000 marijuana plants – a quantity that is capable of producing over a $1 million worth of marijuana.

If convicted, Lam Ly faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to a lifetime in prison, a minimum of five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10 million dollars. If convicted, Tam Pham, Nhi Le, Diep Pham, Ut Le, Luan Bui, and Minh Bui faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison, a minimum of four years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5 million.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; John J. Arvanitis, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Daniel J. Kumor, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Kevin Niland, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; John G. Collins, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; Colonel Timothy P. Alben, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Chief Timothy J. Bent of the Webster Police Department; Chief Gary J. Gemme of the Worcester Police Department; Chief Patrick T. Foley of the Douglas Police Department; Chief Michael Hassett of the Oxford Police Department; Chief Robert Desrosiers of the Paxton Police Department; and Chief Robert Healey of the Leominster Police Department, made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Grady of Ortiz’s Worcester Branch Office.

The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.